Support Group for Parents of LGBT Teens Starts July 8

Posted on:June 9th, 2015byMark Fangmeier

Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender teens can always find support at The Bridge for Youth in the Twin Cities. The Bridge provides safe, emergency shelter for LGBT youth who may need a break from family when conflict at home intensifies.

LGBT teens who want to find like-minded peers, meet other LGBT kids in a confidential, safe place know that The Bridge for Youth’s weekly support group, So What if I Am?, is the place to go. The group meets every Tuesday at The Bridge, with drop-in from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and a facilitated group from 5:30 to 6:3o p.m.

Parents now have a place to find community as well. Beginning in July, an support group for parents of GLBT youth will launch at The Bridge. The drop-in group, funded by Headwaters Justice Foundation, will meet the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at The Bridge.

“We found that many parents of LGBT teens feel isolated,” said Joan Countryman, Outreach Manager at The Bridge. “Teens may not be ready to come out to peers and classmates. That makes it hard for parents to identify other parents to build connections with.”

Parents now have a safe place to talk about how to support their LGBT teen. Safety is always a big discussion item. Other topics to be explored include having difficult conversations with family, school, and community, recognizing and identifying mental health issues, and helping your GLBT teen navigate crushes, dating, and sex.

The Bridge for Youth is located at 1111 West 22nd Street, Minneapolis. Services include emergency and long-term shelter for youth ages 10-17, free counseling for youth and families, and support groups.